Double brush type floor tool for air-method cleaners



Dec. 21, 1937. D. B. REPLOGLE DOUO L E BRUSH TYPE FLOOR TOOL FOR AIR METHOD CLEANERS Filed May 1, 1935 4 She etsShee t 2 3mm D5. Fe O/Oy/e,

Dec. 21, 1937. D. B. REPLOGLE 2,102,645

DOUBLE BRUSH TYPE FLOOR TOOL FOR AIR METHOD CLEANERS Filed May 1, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J7 f s s (Wm/um,

Dec.2l, 1937. I DBREPLOG 2,102,645

DOUBLE BRUSH TYPE FLOOR TOOL FOR AIR METHOD CLEANER S Filed May 1, 1935 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 21,1937

DOUBLE BRUSH TYPE FLOOR TOOL FOR- AIR-METHOD CLEANERS Daniel Benson lbeplog'le, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to The Ohio Citizens Trust Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as trustee Application May 1, 1935, Serial No. 19,310

Claims.

The invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this type utilizing the cleaning effect of swiftly moving air in conjunction withthe cleaning action of posi- 5 tively driven surface engaging agitating means, whereby the apparatus combines the functions of an air-method cleaner and a carpet sweeper.

In designing the apparatus it is my aim to utilize to a large extent standard and interchangeable parts, connections and the like, which are covered by myprior patents and pending applications, and which are included in what is known as the "Air-Way system, the term Air- Way being covered by a registered trade-mark.

One of the general objects of my invention is to provide an improved detachable floor tool which may beused with various kinds of equipment which may be manipulated to pass under .furniture and the like.

A further general object of the invention is to improve various of the interchangeable detachable elements or parts of the apparatus making up the Air-Way system, without interfering with their interchangeability and utility in the ystem as a whole.

A further object of the invention is to-provide a floor tool with a plurality of surface agitating means which may act either simultaneously or independently to perform their respective functions. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor tool having two revolving agitators which may be driven in opposite directions about their axes, whereby an effective beating operation is attained.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a floor tool in which there are two revolving brushes or agitators, each driven independently by its own motor, one running in one direction, the other in the'cpposite direction, the motors being controllable so that the agitators may be driven one at a time to either cause movement of the tool or to assist the operator in moving the same across the floor, one of the brushes pulling the tool forward and the other backward, thus relieving the operator wholly or "in part of the strain of operating the device.

Further objects are to avoid leakage of air in the nozzle, to provide detachable means for mounting the motor or motors, and to relieve strain and vibration with respectto thepower means and the brush mounting. Another object is to provide an adjustable mounting for the agitators. Still another object is to provide means source of auction.

for releasably connecting the floor tool to a Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which are set forth illustrative embodiments of the inventive thought, which. however, are not to be considered as limiting the invention to the specific details therein disclosed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a floor tool or nozzle embodying the invention, the parts being broken away to show the interior;

Figs. 1a and 1b are details showing two forms of motor supporting means;

. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line .3-3 of Fig. 1, extending transversely through the brushes or agitators;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view extending longitudinally through the front agitator or beater, and showing the mounting thereof, portions being in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing the mounting of one of the end roller supports;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation on a reduced scale, largely diagrammatic in character, showing the tool equipped with a flexible and swiveled connector communicating with the source of suction through a hollow tubular member adapted to serve as a handle;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same with the handle removed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, showing the bracket employed for attaching the handle to the tool;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the tool employed in conjunction with an airmethod cleaner of substantially conventional Fig. 10 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 6, but showing a modifled'form of floor tool detailed in Figs. 11 and 12;

Figs. 10a and 101) are fragmentary views showing reversing switch arrangements;

Fig. 11 is a section on line ll-li of Fig. 12, the parts beingin elevation and a portion of a tubular connector being illustrated;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the modified floor tool, parts being broken away to show the interior as in Fig. l;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the form of tool' shown in Fig. 12, detailing the mounting of one of the end rollers and the end cover carried thereby, and Fig. 14 shows one of the end covers.

may enter the nozzle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference numeral Ill denotes the casing of a floor tool or nozzle which is adapted to house a pair of revolving brushes or agitators and which may be detachably secured to a source of suction through a hollow handle, tube or other means. The casing is air-tight except for the inlet and exhaust openings, although provided with removable caps or coverings to permit access to the interior at various places. A short outlet pipe I l is shown extending rearwardly from the nozzle. The casing may be formed of any suitable material, as metal or synthetic materials such as bakelite. The casing is preferably cast, and a light-weight material is preferred, as for example, aluminum,

where metal is employed, in 'order to facilitate movement of the apparatus across the floor. The nozzle is built low to the floor to permit the same to pass beneath furniture and the like, and the outlet pipe is preferably of no greater height than the top of the casing.

The front wall of the casing is bulged outwardly as at i2 and thence downwardly at l3 to form, in cooperation with an inner member l4 secured to the front wall as at i5, pockets [6 for receiving the sur'iorts l1 of end rollers IS, in a manner similar to what is described in my application Serial No. 16,866, filed April 17, 1935. Also engaged between the downwardly extending portion 13 and the lower end of the inner member 14 there may be secured one of a pair of front and rear stroker members l9, l9, which extend in parallel relation to each other across the tool and serve as surface engaging means. These strokers may be of hard fiber, raw-hide, hard rubber, or the like, and prevent contact between the walls of the casing and the surface to be cleaned, this being particularly important where the casing is of aluminum, which-islikely to darken the floor coverings. The front stroker may be secured in place by means of a bolt 20, which likewise holds the lower end of the member 14, while the rear stroker is similarly secured to the rear wall 2!. The strokers l9 extend slightly below the end walls 22 of the nozzle, and thus provide end openings 23 through which air An outlet opening 24 in the rear wall communicates with the pipe H.

The nozzle is provided at its ends with a pair of chambered arms 25, 25, extending rearwardly and communicating with the main portion of the nozzle through suitable apertures 26, 25. The function of these arms is similar to the chambered arms described in my application Serial No. 13,164, filed March 26, 1935, and they serve to house the belts for actuating the agitators and also for mounting the motors. By reason of the construction of these arms an air-tight chamber is insured. Openings 21, 21 are provided in the side walls of these arms which are closed fluid-tight by means of caps 28, 23, provided with springs 29, 29. Likewise suitable packing means, not shown, may be employed to avoid leakage of air.

As shown, the side walls of the nozzle extend slightly beyond the limits of the chambered arms and are connected by a rear frame member 33 which extends parallel to the wall 21. Cooperatingwith this frame member is an inner member 3| similar to the member 14 at the front of the casing and similarly secured to the frame member by a bolt 32. The members 30 and 3| together form pockets for receiving rear roller supports, just as at the front end of the tool.

The floor tool is adapted to be connected to any suitable source of suction, as for example, a suction handle, extension tube or cleaner body of the usual Air-Way type, or of the caddy or barrel type disclosed in my patents and applications. To facilitate attachment of certain types of connections, lugs 33, 33, one at each side of the outlet pipe ll, may be provided, these being shown as cast integral with the top wall of the casing, and each being provided with a socket 34 having a key-way' or slot 35 extending therefrom, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the construction shown, motors 36 and 31 are mounted within the spaces between the stub pipe II and the chambered arms 25, 25. These motors serve to actuate agitator members 33 and 39 through belts 40, 41, passing through the openings 26, 26 in the rear wall of the nozzle casing. These motors are preferably substantially identical in construction, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention are arranged to-actaste the agitators in opposite directions about their respective axes. The motors are desirably mounted to permit ready removal and at the same time should be so mounted that vibration is avoided. As shown, the nose 42 of each motor extends through an aperture 43 in its chambered arm and a pulley 44 and pulley shaft 45 may be inserted through the opening 21 in the end wall by removing the cap 28. When the motors are in position and the caps replaced, the chambered arms are rendered fluid-tight and no leakage is possible. As shown, the motors are held in place between the rear frame members 30, 3| and the wall 2i of the nozzle, upper and lower pairs of buffer members 45, 45' one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 1a serving as shock absorbing devices and insuring a tight fit at the front portion. It-will be noted that the lower bufl'er members rest upon a ledge formed by the upper edge of the rear stroker l9, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The bufier members may be removably secured to the motor frame by means of bolts or the like, or may be welded thereto or may be in the form of straps running around the motor and provided with bent-over edges as indicated in Fig. 1b. They may-be formed of resilient metal or of composition material with a friction surface to prevent sliding axially after the motor has been wedged in place. They may also be detachably secured to the casing by means of small bolts, not shown. Where the friction of the buffer members is relied upon to hold the motors in place, it will be obvious that they may be readily removed without the removal of any bolts or the like, but in any event the motors may be readily separated for cleaning, repairs or the like. The motors being preferably substantially symmetrical, may be reversed end for end, thereby securing reversal of the respective agitator operated by the motor. Also the motors may be electrically reversed so as to rotate in opposite directions about their axes. The motors should be strong, comparatively light of weight, and capable of actuating their respective agitators so as to produce the desired cleaning effect.

. Each of the motors may have two sockets 46, 41, one to receive current from a suitable source and the other to transmit current, as for example, to the other motor of the pair, where current is supplied to one motor and a branch circuit leads to the other. It will be obvious that the windings of the motors will be so arranged as to permit this take-01f arrangement. Switches, not shown, will be provided to turn the motors on or oil, and it will be understood that the motween the body and theshaft.- The ends of the shaft" may be flattened as at ii to fit slots 52 in spring bearing plates 53 carried by the end walls of the cleaner nozzle. Owing to the resiliency of the bearing plates 53 the agitators may be snapped into position and are then firmly held justment.

form and is attached to the end wall of the nozzle -at theapex' of the triangle by means of a rivet against accidental removal.

It is desirable to provide means for adjusting a the distance of the agitators from the surface to be cleaned, and accordingly the end plates 83 have been specially formed to permit such ad- As shown, each plate is triangular in 54, which serves as a pivot when the plate is being adjusted. To permit of such adjustment an elongated slot 55 is provided at the-other end of the plate through which an'adiusting screw or the like 56 may extend. While the agitators may be made of identical construction, if desired, I have shown the front agitator as including beater flaps 51, two only being shown in the drawings for the purpose of clarity, but it being understood that any suitable number. may be employed. These flaps may be composed of rubber, fiber, or any suitable material, and are intended to perform a rough beating operation. The rear agitatormay be provided with bristles 58, which are preferably. arranged in closely spaced parallel rows, so as. to provide a comparatively stiif brush.

Owingto the fact that the brush isdirectly actuated' through astrong motor independent of the source of suction, a still brush isavailable, whereas if the brush were actuated by the motor which drives. the fan, a more flexible brush would I have to be employed, asin such case there would be danger of stalling the motor and reducing thesuction. This danger is eliminat'edin the present construction.) It willbe noted that by em-' ploying'two small brushes instead of. a single large brush, the height of the casing maybe reduced without decreasing the emciency of the cleaning operation and thus cleaning under very low'articleS ismade feasible.- In operating the tool the outlet pipe ll may I be connec'ted to any suitable source of suction, and oneor both of the agitator actuating motors i :started. Where one only. is operated at atime, the agitator,- if so adjusted as to properly contact the surface being cleaned, will serve to move the tool across the floor or to assistthe operator in moving the same. When reversal of the;direc-- tion of movement is desired the othenagitator may be actuated through'suitable switchmeans' I00 (Fig. 10a), or automatic vreversal may be secured on-the operators reversal'of the direc-"' tion of movement of the tool as -a whole by the.

use of suitable floor engaging means illl (Fig. 10b), similar to what is disclosed in my Patent No. 1,912,386, dated June 6,1933, which may be pivotally mounted on the'casing of the tool in such a manner as to' engage the floor or surface for the reversal oftheagitator driving motors.

Where the agitators are operated simultaneously in opposite directions a very efl'ectivecleaning to be cleaned, such members, serving as switches "pulling out either plug tinue lie-operate. I, v

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the same 1 agitators will be raised or lowered according. to-

the floor covering to be'cleaned. Also, if desired.

the floor tool may be equipped with end covers carriedby the end roller supports, as illustrated in the modifications shown inFigs. 10 to 14. It will be observed that all the parts of the floor tool are accessible for cleaning and repair, and

there is no danger of leakage of air.

As shown in Fig. 6, a-flexible hose connector 68 is fitted over the pipe II and -at its other end fits into a collar 60. This collar is provided with forked arms 6i, ll, which are pivoted at 62 to a bracket 63 having arms 64 provided withgudgeons 65 and keys adapted to fit in the sockets i4 and keyways 35 of the castings 33 extending from thecasing of the motor. The arms oi the bracket 63 possess suflicient flexibility to permit them to be contracted slightly to permit withdrawal of the gudgeons from their sockets and to allow. for outward expansion when placed therein. Thus the bracket forms a ready means for connecting the tool to suction pipes and the like. The collar BI is shown connected to a stub pipe 66 through a joint Bl inclined at an angle to the axis of the pipe and into the stub pipe 66 may be fitted a tubular handle 68, preferably composed of hard fiber.

The ,suction pipe or handle 68 may be removabiy connected through.

a collar 69 -to a flexible tube 10 which in turn communicates with a source of suction, not shown. An electric conduction cord 1| may be. attached to the handle. 68 and extends to-the motors 36,

being suitably branched for this purpose. Switches, not shown, may be, furnished 'for con-- trolling either one or both of:these branches.

It will be understood that the connections to the motors are through detachable plugs, sathat by the other motor will con- I type of floor toolis shown provided with asocket i 12 which is directlyconnectedtothe outlet pipe of the tool by means of the angular joint 13.

Into this socket may be fitted thev end-of a suc- "tio'n pipe ll of an Air-way clea'ner of conventlonal type,f providedw ith a two-way .valve'15, a

*suctionpipe or handle 16,9, fan .motor 11,. and

afan casing" housing a highspeed fan driven by" the motor and discharging-at I! into a dust collector bag 80 carriedby the handle 16, which bag may be and preferably iscomposedof an inner'bag of porous paper, not shown, and an outer cloth cover; The motor" is'shown pro-.

vided-with detachable plugs II. and 82, one of fwhichis'connected to a cord 83 which supplies current to the motor and the other is connected to a' cord 84 which conveys current-to the motors which drive the agltators- This form of my invention is particularly desirable; since it involves the combination of 'a directmotor-connected centrifugal high-speed, fan arranged to produce a nozzle-entering swiftair current, and separate motorsfor driving the agitators within the air currentfproduced by the fan." Thereis thus-no slowing down of the fan motor by theldrivin'g of the agitators, their operation. being separate and independent. The fan motor. TI is shown as supported by one or more rollers 85, and it is, possible to fulcrum the. apparatus about theserollers to raise the floor tool for any desired In Figs. 10 to 13 a floor tool similar to that described in the preferred embodiment is shown, but differing therefrom in that the rear rollers are set just back of the rear brush, and each pair of front and rear rollers on one side of the machine conjointly carry end closure plates or,

strips similar to what is described in my application Serial No. 16,866, referred to above. In this embodiment of the invention also a single motor 96 is shown having a pulley on each end of its shaft, the motor being mounted in a manner similar to that described for the two motors in the previous embodiment of the invention. Belts I1 and it serve to drive-the agitators 89 and 90. The bristles of the rear brush or agitator may be omitted for a short distance to permit the belt for driving the other agitator to pass and the flaps of the beater are likewise cut away for a short distance to receive the driving pulley. By twisting either of the belts the agitator driven thereby may be'reversed with reference to the motor drive. By removing either belt from its pulley or by withdrawing the pulley shaft from contact with the motor shaft, either brush may be rendered inoperative while the other is actuated. Sockets 9|, 91 may be provided at the rear portion of the casing to receive the rear rollers. End covers 92, shown in detail in Figs. 13 and 14, are jointly supported by each pair of front and rear rollers. It will be noted that in order to accommodate the single motor the outlet pipe 99 leading from the floor tool or nozzle will have to be directed upwardly so that it is at a somewhat higher level than the corresponding outlet pipe Ii in the preferred embodiv. ment of the invention. If desired, a rigid suction handle 94 may be fitted into the pipe 93 without the use of intermediate connections. A tight joint may be obtained by drying the end of the flber tube below its normal moisture content and then allowing the same to expand within the socket. In Fig. 11 the pipe 94 is shown fitted over the outlet tube 93, and in such case a tight joint may be secured by moistening the end of the fiber tube and allowing the same to dry and contract over the other tube. In either case the fiber tube may be withdrawn when desired to permit the tool to be connected to other sources of suction or to permit the handle to be applied to a diiferent tool.

It will be understood that the various modes of connecting the floor tool to sources of suction are intended as illustrative only and that the floor tool is adapted for use with any type of suction handle pipe or suction cleaner, including a tubular pipe connected to a source of suction or fan motor. Various types of cleaners with which the tool may be employed are illustrated in myprior Patents Nos. 1,167,219, dated Jan. 4, 1916; 1,345,550, dated Dec. 15, 1925; 1,533,271, dated Apr. 14, 1925 and 1,887,600, dated Nov. 15, 1932, these forms being intended as illustrative only. Various methods of connecting the tool to a source of suction are illustrated in my application Serial No. 16,866, hereinbefore referred to.

It will be understood that where end covers 92 are employed as in-the modification disclosed in Figs. 10 to 14, spring members 95, shown in Fig. 13 and likewise illustrated in Fig. 5, permit variation of the size of the end openings according to the degree of downward pressure applied to the floor tool, this being varied in accordance with the cleaning operation. Likewise the position of the agitators will be adjusted according to the type of surface being cleaned, and the combined en'ect of the automatic adjustment of the end openings and the manual .adjustability of the agitators permits .the most eifective cleanins operation.

. The floor tool being built low to the ground and in the preferred embodiment of the invention having an outlet pipe no higher than the top of the door tool casins, permits sweeping under extremely low objects, and the combined use of a flexible hose connector and inclined ioint contributes to this desired result, in that the suction handle may be-tilted downwardly and rotated angularly so that it is on a level with or below the nozzle. The angular tilting permits the tool to be moved at an angle with reference to the handle itself, as described-in my previous patents and applications.

Various modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described. a suction nozzle having an inlet mouth and a rearwardly extending outlet pipe adapted to be connected to a source of suction, a pair of chambered arms also extending rearwardly from the casing and communicating therewith and havin aligned transverse opening surface agitating means rotatably mounted within the nozzle, a pair of motors mounted one on one side and the otheron the other side of the outlet pipe, each having a portion extending into one of the transverse openings in the adjacent chambered arm and closing said opening fluid-tight, said motors having actuating pulleys within said arms, belts extending from the pulleys to said agitators,

. tween the motors and the rear of the nozzle.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a suction nozzle having a pair of agitators mounted therein, said nozzle having parallel chambered arms communicating with the interior of the nozzle and extending rearwardly. therefrom, corresponding openings in each of said arms facing each other, and motors for actuating said agitators having hubs closing said openings air-tight, and power transmission means extending through said chambered arms from said motors to said agitators.

'5. In an apparatus of the character described, a suction nozzle having a pair of agitators mounted therein, said nozzle having parallel chambered arms communicating with the interior of the nozzles and extending rearwardly therefrom, corresponding openings in each of said arms facing each other, motors for actuating said agitators having hubs closing said openings air-tight, and capped access holes opposite said hub openings, and power transmission means extending through said chambered arms from said motors to said agitators.

6. In an apparatus of the character described. a nozzle having front and rear strokers, the upper in rear of said rear wall and connected thereto at its ends, and means for actuating said agitating means and including a motor wedged between the rear wall of the nozzle and said frame member and supported upon said ledge,

7. A floor tool comprising-a suction nozzle having a pair of rotatable agitators. therein, and means for selectively actuating said agitators to rotate singly, or simultaneously, in the same or in opposite directions, at the will 01' the oper-- ator.

8. A floor tool as set forth in claim 7, wherein the actuating means includes a pair or independent motors, at least one 01' which is reversible end for end.

'9. A floor toolcomprising a suction nozzle, a

go pair or rotatable agitators therein, a pair of chambered arms extending rearwardly irom the nozzle and communicating with the interior thereof, and driving means for said agitators,

mounted between said chambered arms and having portions extending into openings therein and closing the same air-tight, and motor transmission means extending through said chambered arms from the driving means to the agitators.

10. A floor tool comprising a suction nozzle,

having a pair of rotatable agitators therein, said nozzle having a centrally located, rearwardly extending outlet pipe and a pair of chambered arms, one on each side oi. the outlet pipe, and communicating with the interior of said nozzle, and a pair of motors for driving said agitators, and having their hubs extending into openings in the chambered arms and closing the same air-tight, and power transmission means extending through DANIEL BENSON REPIDGLE.

said chambered arms from said motors to said itators. 

